ANN RULE

Author Ann Rule is regarded by many as the foremost true crime writer in America and most responsible for the genre as it exists today. Ann Rule was born in Lowell, Michigan, on October 22, 1935, into a family of law-enforcement professionals. She attended the University of Washington and received a BA in Creative Writing, with minors in Psychology, Criminology and Penology. To help pay the bills, she wrote true crime articles for several magazines, including Master Detective. Her big break came when she wrote her first true crime book, The Stranger Beside Me, a bestseller about serial killer Ted Bundy. Unbeknownst to the author, Ann Rule was doing research for the book while actually working beside the killer at a suicide prevention hotline at which they were both volunteering in Seattle. It was not until Bundy's trials and convictions that she finally accepted that her co-worker and friend was the sadistic serial killer responsible for more than 30 murders. Over the past three decades, she has published over 30 books and 1,400 articles, mostly on criminal cases. Her true crime books all explore the reasons behind the front-page cases she covers. Twenty-six of Ann Rule's books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list, with Every Breath You Take and Last Dance, Last Chance both on the list at the same time. Her true crime books have been made into many TV movies. She is very active in support groups for victims of violent crimes. She currently lives in the Seattle area.